At a construction site near a motorway junction under Duisburg, workers discovered an unexploded ordnance – an artillery shell from World War II. The specialist bomb disposal service (Kampfmittelräumdienst) was called to the scene to neutralize the find. Due to the disarmament work, traffic on the nearby A59 motorway towards the Kreuz Duisburg junction has been temporarily halted. The disarmament operation is scheduled for 2:00 PM.
Discovery of WWII Unexploded Ordnance
During construction work near the Duisburg motorway junction, workers encountered an artillery shell from the World War II period. The object was deemed dangerous, requiring specialist intervention.
Motorway Traffic Halted
Due to the ongoing disarmament operation, traffic on the A59 motorway towards the Kreuz Duisburg junction has been completely blocked. Access roads in the incident area have also become congested.
Neutralization Planned for 2:00 PM
The bomb disposal service (Kampfmittelräumdienst) from the state of North Rhine-Westphalia will carry out the neutralization of the shell, scheduled for 2:00 PM. The area around the find has been secured.
On Thursday morning, a dangerous discovery was made at a construction site near the Kreuz Duisburg motorway junction in North Rhine-Westphalia. Workers came across an artillery shell from World War II, which most likely remained unexploded. Immediately after the incident was reported, specialists from the bomb disposal service (Kampfmittelräumdienst) arrived at the scene.
As a result of intense Allied bombing, as well as German anti-aircraft defense actions between 1939 and 1945, hundreds of thousands of unexploded bombs remain on German territory, especially in industrial regions such as the Ruhr area. According to estimates by German authorities, approximately 2,000 tons of ammunition from the war period are found and neutralized in the country each year. Regular discoveries of unexploded ordnance are a constant feature of life in many German cities, often leading to evacuations of residents and traffic paralysis.
To ensure safety during the operation, authorities decided to close traffic on the A59 motorway towards the Kreuz Duisburg junction. Some access roads in the area of the find were also blocked, causing significant traffic disruptions in the morning hours. The services report that the operation to neutralize the unexploded ordnance is scheduled to begin at 2:00 PM. Earlier, specialists inspected the object and secured the area, establishing a danger zone. Disarmament actions of this type are routine procedures in Germany, though they always involve a certain level of risk.
„Die Bombe aus dem Krieg wurde bei Erdarbeiten entdeckt. Das Gelände wurde sofort abgesichert und unser Team bereitet sich auf die sichere Entschärfung vor.” (The bomb from the war was discovered during earthworks. The site was immediately secured and our team is preparing for the safe defusing.) — German services
After the operation is completed and safety is confirmed, traffic on the motorway will be restored. Meanwhile, drivers are asked to avoid the Kreuz Duisburg area and to be patient and use alternative routes. The incident once again reminds us of the material legacy of World War II, which still poses a real threat to public safety and infrastructure in many parts of Europe.